BWW Recap: The Dark Mute Unmasks on THE BASTARD EXECUTIONER

It's been two full weeks since Lovekin became Facebook official-yes, "Lovekin," I worked really hard on that, okay?--so you'd think tonight's episode would be all about the forbidden romance between our favorite baroness and executioner. But no! "Broken Things/Toredig Pethau" focuses a pretty big chunk of its attention on the FX drama's original power couple: Annora and the Dark Mute. I'll be honest, I always find myself more interested in what's happening inside Ventris Castle that out of it, but it was satisfying to finally unravel some of the mystery around the healer and her mutilated beau. "Some," being the key word.

Annora tells Father Ruskin all about her group, the Seraphim, and to say the priest is overwhelmed would be an understatement. This Book of the Nazarene--as in the Nazarene, that's Jesus, people--would shatter everything Father Ruskin believes, if proven true. That's quite a book. Meanwhile, the Archdeacon has his goons raid the Dark Mute's hideaway, which is conveniently rigged with traps, including those poisonous snakes hanging from the ceiling. Knew those things had to come in handy sooner or later. Later on the beach, the Dark Mute reveals himself to Wilk and Toran for the first time, even getting all dressed up for the occasion, decked out in his fancy armor. Still, it doesn't distract from the fact that his face is...pretty bad. Annora explains that the fire that burned him was set by the very men he had sworn to protect. Ain't it always the way? She also shows Wilk a vision of a nun and a knight and a baby, the baby being Wilk. That's probably important.

And hey, remember that nomad camp Ventrishire's knights attacked in the last episode? Yeah. So do the nomads. They see Wilk and Toran and, obviously, see a perfect opportunity for revenge. Too bad they don't know that the Dark Mute is a total beast--though who would just from looking at him. Wilk and Toran fight off some of the attackers, then the Dark Mute implores them to keep Annora safe, leaving him alone against, like, five big dudes. And guess what? He takes all of them out. Without even breaking a sweat. That's pretty awesome. So awesome that I'm left wondering why we didn't actually get to see what happened. I'm just saying. That would've been cool. Oh well. I'll accept this little glimpse into his prowess, but I'm hoping we'll get to see more of his fighting skills or magic or whatever it is in the future.

Alright, that's enough of those guys. Back at Ventrishire castle, Lady Love and Milus receive word that Sir Gaveston has been exiled for leading the king astray--and not for his ridiculous accent, as I initially thought. A curious predicament has arisen, however: Sir Gaveston is missing. Can you technically banish somebody you can't find? I don't know why that's so humorous to me. Like, "We must find Sir Gaveston. Because none of us ever wants to see him again." Lady Love volunteers her services to find the dastardly Frenchman, in exchange for full reign over the whole rebel problem, and considering that the head rebel is her half brother, that seems like a win-win for just about everybody. Milus suspects, correctly, that the twins will know where he is, so he questions them in private. They feign ignorance, of course, but are immediately caught trying to leave Ventrishire, which raises suspicion. They are brought to the dungeon for further questioning, AKA torture--in one sister's case, to the death. Sir Gaveston, turns out, is hiding in the marshes with the Earl of Pembroke. You know what that means, kids? TIME FOR A ROAD TRIP.

Oh, but WAIT! No recap is complete without mentioning the glorious Jessamy Maddox. Here's the thing, she's an easy target to make fun of, sure. She's so crazy and so jealous of literally.every.one. Seriously! She sees Wilk in the dungeon with the surviving "twin" and without missing a beat is all like, "Who's that, Maddy?" Heck, she even gives Isabel the side-eye. Isabel! But ultimately, I definitely feel bad for her. She's had a rough life, and has clearly been traumatized by an emotionally and physically abusive husband. And yeah, maybe she's completely delusional when it comes to her relationship with Wilk, but, man, she really seems to like him--so when she walks in on Lady Love and Wilk engaged in an intense game of tonsil hockey (the kids still call it that, right?), my immediate reaction was to laugh, like, "DAHHHH, JESSAMY! AGAIN!" But she was just so sad, and we can all appreciate that feel, right? Poor thing. Although I'll admit, I was brought right back to my usual Jessamy-joking self when Father Ruskin blatantly rolls his eyes at her. He did, right?! Was I seeing things? Her "Maddy" call has elicited a similar response from me so many times, maybe I was just projecting myself onto the priest. It's possible.

The episode ends with two big cliffhangers of sorts: Milus and his band of merrymen, including Wilk and Toran, are off to the marshes to find Sir Gaveston, and poor Lucca Maddox is snatched right from Father Ruskin's avuncular clutches, basically seconds after he promised to take care of him. Well. Bring on next Tuesday.

To post a comment, you must register and login.